People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is reporting that the
organization has uncovered documents from the University of Michigan
showing that cats from U of M's Survival Flight training laboratories are
typically euthanized.

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, PETA has found documents
showing cats are killed, not adopted out, after being used in
laboratories, which PETA representative Justin Goodman said is
contradictory of previous university statements.

In a letter to the editor to the Michigan Daily, instructor Dr. Mark
Lowell states that in 2010, only three cats were used in survival flight
training and all three were adopted out.

The letter reads, "Survival Flight held three animal training labs in
2010, using three cats (all of which were adopted) and 12 pigs."

Records obtained by the Freedom of Information Act show otherwise.

One record of disposition of dogs and cats shows three cats were used
in 2010, two domestic shorthairs and a manx cross. One of the domestic
shorthairs and the manx cross were euthanized, according to the U of M
document.

Records of each cat details their care in the facility and what
happened to them after they were used, and corroborate this data.

The cats, as well as pigs, are used in a surgical skills lab for
nurses in U of M's survival flight program.

The cats are anesthetized and used to practice intubation, a process
by which a plastic tube is inserted into the patient's throat to assist
breathing. It's a common procedure for cats during spay and neutering
surgeries, as well as people whose lungs have collapsed.

Simulators for this practice are available, but are not adequate
according to Lowell.

"Simulators haven't evolved to the point where they're superior to
training on an animal model for certain surgical procedures," he said in
his letter to the editor of the Michigan Daily.

Goodman disagrees, citing the position of Air and Surface Transport
Nurses Association President Kyle Madigan.

"Virtually everyone across the country has replaced the use of animals
with simulators," Goodman said. "Not only for ethical concerns, but
because research shows people trained on simulators are more proficient."

In a 2010 letter from Madigan to Noah Gittell of the Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine explained that simulators are becoming
the norm throughout training courses.

"It is becoming apparent that simulators are more advanced than they
were 30 years ago, and less expensive than live labs," Madigan writes.

Last year, the USDA inspected the laboratory and cleared it.

Laboratories are free to do whatever they want to animals, according
to federal law, said Goodman.

"The USDA does not approve or disapprove experiments," he said. "The
federal law allows anything to be done to an animal."

Goodman and PETA also take issue with where U of M gets its animals
from, R&R Research.

R&R provides animals for laboratories, not only at U of M, but at
Wayne State University and other research facilities. Legally, R&R can
only sell animals that have been obtained from shelters or breeders who
have raised the animal from birth.

PETA has obtained USDA inspection reports showing several Animal
Welfare Act violations at R&R. Violations include illegally obtaining
animals, not maintaining records of animal purchases, not being available
to the site for inspections, poor housing facilities for the animals.

One report, dated March 16, 2010, reads: "Please repair the ceiling so
that the cats enclosed in the room cannot ingest peeling paint for their
safety and wellbeing."

U of M is legally buying these animals, but Goodman says that doesn't
make it right.

"I think that whether or not killing these cats and getting them form
a despicable animal dealer is legal, is an insult to the university
community," he said.

Goodman also believes that R&R has violated the university's vendor
code of conduct.

"Based on R&R's repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act, we
believe that R&R likely has violated the U-M Vendor Code of Conduct which
requires that all vendors 'comply with all applicable federal, state, and
local laws, rules and regulations,'" he said.

PETA wants the university to stop its use of animals in their labs.

"We have been working on this case for more than a year," Goodman
said. "The most recent FOIA was prompted by a desire to find out how many
animals were used in the course and what happened to them. We want them
to end the use of animals."

When reached out to for comment, Uof M public relations representative
Ian Demsky sent a link to the university's information website, which
restates the university's position on animal training labs for survival
flight training.

"We conduct the training because our flight nurses may be called upon
to perform these life-saving tasks when helping to transport a critically
ill patient or someone who has been in a devastating car crash," Demsky
said in an email.

PETA has sent letters to U of M describing its complaints, urging the
university to change its practices.